Today, Norm Goldman, editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com, is pleased to have Bethany Ericson, author of New England Cabins & Cottages, as a guest. Bethany is an expert on the New England states.
Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Bethany and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
STANDARD:
Tell our readers a little about yourself and your experience dealing with the New England states.
Bethany:
My pleasure, Norm. Thanks for the invitation. I grew up in New England, with my family in the region, so I had traveled the area quite a bit early on. I lived near Thoreau’s Walden Pond Cabin, spent the summer in a cabin in the New Hampshire Lakes Country, and have always loved exploring the rivers, ocean, mountains, and forests in all seasons. However, while writing New England Cabins & Cottages, I was constantly amazed and amazed by the beauty of the area I thought I knew so well, and fell in love with it all over again.
STANDARD:
Where are the New England states?
Bethany:
New England is made up of the six northeasternmost states of the United States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It borders Canada, New York, and the Atlantic Ocean.
STANDARD:
Why would you consider a stay in a cabin or cottage in the New England states a good choice for a romantic getaway or honeymoon destination?
Bethany:
Well, the added privacy is obvious, but it’s also easier to feel part of the natural area you’re in when you’re in a cabin or cabin than when you’re in an anonymous hotel room. When your natural area might include crashing waves, twinkling lighthouses, mountaintop vistas, or amazing fall foliage, this connection to your surroundings really adds to the exuberance of your visit. Imagine you are in a characterless hotel somewhere and the forecast is torrential rain, you may feel trapped or depressed. Imagine you’re in a cabin and you feel like you have a great excuse to stay under the covers with your partner!
When I got married this summer, I rented an old summer camp. My guests played in the lake, ate, danced in the main lodge, and slept in the cabins. They all had a deliriously childish and welcoming experience. Cabins and cottages allow for that nice combination of carefree enthusiasm, adventurous spirit of us against the elements, and romance in a way. (And it doesn’t hurt that many of them have fireplaces, wood stoves, or Jacuzzis.)
STANDARD:
When is the best time to visit the New England states in terms of weather, cost, crowds, and availability of flights from the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, etc.?
Bethany:
New England is extremely accessible, its largest airport being in Boston, Massachusetts, but there are also major airports in most states. Since the dollar is not at its best, it has made the United States a less expensive trip for many visitors.
My favorite season here is fall, and not just because of the bright colors of the trees. There’s that magical snap in the fresh air that adds excitement to bundling up and lowers your inhibitions about feasting on a season of roasts and apple pies. As the masses flock to the Vermont, Massachusetts Berkshire Hills, and New Hampshire’s White Mountains to “peek at the leaves,” as we say, try heading to Maine. Fall is one of the least crowded and most beautiful times to visit Acadia National Park, for example. (And let’s be real, you never planned on swimming off the Maine coast if you went during the summer anyway, brrr.) By the way, the seafood is excellent here year-round, and some Maine lobstermen don’t even put their boats in the water until it’s cold.
STANDARD:
If you had to pick 5 unique places in the New England states for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or destination wedding, what would they be and why?
Bethany:
Tough question, Norm! There are so many. I’ll name a few off the top of my head.
* The first that comes to mind is the cabin at Three Mountain Inn in Vermont. They built it with romance in mind. I think it’s the only place I’ve visited where I blushed when the owner showed me its features: the underfloor heating, the shower for two, the jacuzzi next to the bed, the stereo speakers built into the exposed beams. , the stained glass window that can only be seen from a prone position and everything, music, lighting and gas fireplace can be operated from bed with a remote control.
* Sebasco Harbor Resort in Maine is a wonderful place for a wedding, with all its activities and gigantic stone fireplaces and ocean views in large natural log cabins that could accommodate the whole family.
* Sterling Ridge Inn and Cabins in Vermont would also be a fun wedding venue; the log cabins are beautiful, and in such a wonderful pastoral setting on the edge of the woods and with a view of the Green Mountains.
* The Summer House Inns & Cottages on the outskirts of Massachusetts would make a chic, but always memorable event or island escape (think rose-draped seaside cottages), the Turning Point Inn in the Berkshires adds delicious food to the mix, and oh –
* The Inn at Sunrise Point on the Maine coast has a cabin that literally sits right on the sea and is filled with the sound of the waves. And there are many more!
STANDARD:
What should people know about having a wedding in the New England states in terms of requirements etc.?
Bethany:
Each state has its own requirements, and it is best to contact a city/town clerk in the state in which you are considering getting married. Usually you must be 18 years old or have a short order. And, generally, she should apply for her license at least a month before her big day (and she should have decided on her married name at that time). Some states require blood tests; some have waiting periods, and more. In some states, anyone can apply for a license that allows them to officiate at a marriage on a certain date. My brother officiated my wedding in Massachusetts, for example. Massachusetts is currently the only state that legally allows same-sex marriage.
STANDARD:
How far in advance should a couple prepare for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in the New England states?
Bethany:
New England is such a beautiful region, and places tend to fill up early, especially those on the coast in the summer and those in the mountains in the winter. If you want to be by the beach (lake or ocean), in the short summer season, book your accommodation as close to the beginning of the calendar year as possible. Some families book the same cabin for the same week every year and make the reservation for the next year when they leave, so you have some serious competition. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway for the rest of the year, or further inland, give it a few months if you can. If you’re looking to book a wedding venue, you may need a year or two in advance, especially if you’re booking a weekend somewhere for a big party.
STANDARD:
What resources are available online related to romantic getaways, weddings, and honeymoon vacations in the New England states?
Bethany:
As the oldest settled part of the country, New England is well developed, and that includes tourist facilities and their websites. There are endless websites about New England getaways. If you were planning a wedding, I would recommend checking out some of the regional message board sites for local resources for whatever you need for your event (like the Boston area online community at http://www.theknot.com) . Just remember, as you search the web for New England country houses, that the Gilded Age upper class once built “country houses” in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that we would normally refer to as mansions today. Also, cabins referred to as “campgrounds” in New England tend to be built more with fishing and hunting in mind than romance.
STANDARD:
Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers that we haven’t covered?
Bethany:
I’d love to hear what you think of my book and what else you think I should have included. My email address is in the About the Author section. Now stop procrastinating; Go make those Valentine’s Day reservations!
thank you bethany